Palestinian Leader Requests Vatican Presence in Peace Talks

Shawqi Jabriel Armali, director of the office of representation to the Holy See of the Palestine Liberation Organization, asked Benedict XVI for an “active” Vatican presence in Middle East peace talks.

Shawqi Jabriel Armali, director of the office of representation to the Holy See of the Palestine Liberation Organization, asked Benedict XVI for an "active" Vatican presence in Middle East peace talks. The Vatican press office confirmed that the Pope received the Palestinian diplomat in audience today, but did not offer any details of the meeting. According to the French-language news agency I. Media, Armali delivered a message on behalf of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in which the leader requests an "active presence" on the part of the Holy See in the Middle East peace process. According to the agency, the Palestinian diplomat recognized "the important role of the Vatican in the question of Jerusalem’s status." Armali was named representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization before the Holy See in November. After meeting with Benedict XVI, he met with the secretary for the relations with states, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.